Back in 2010, a young, talented singer by the name of Bruno Mars seemingly came out of nowhere to be featured prominently as the signature vocal hook and chorus on the number one hit B.o.B single “Nothin’ on You.” A great bit of exposure; little did many realize that Mars had been working diligently for six years, making his way within the record industry. Previously signed to Motown Records in 2004, he was dropped a year later as he sought a new path. With a desire to see his dreams become reality, Mars quickly realized that the best step forward in his career was to write his own music. Doing just that, he co-wrote with an eclectic mix of artists from Matisyahu and Flo Rida to Justin Bieber and Sean Kingston. Speaking of which, he also co-wrote and produced “Nothin’ on You,” and this would be the launching point for an extraordinary career as the hitmaking solo artist everyone knows.
Releasing his debut album Doo-Wops & Hooligans in 2010, a lot has transpired in the 16 years since. Progressively climbing charts to superstar status, his 2012 album Unorthodox Jukebox debuted at 2 on the Billboard 200, won him a Grammy award for the Best Pop Vocal Album, and featured the show-stopping hit “Locked Out of Heaven.” Moving forward, 2016’s 24K Magic dominated, winning a massive 8 Grammy Awards, topped charts around the globe, and was the groundwork for the 24K Magic World Tour (one of the highest-grossing tours by a solo male artist ever). This magnificent career achievement nearly 10 years ago, Mars remained active, playing multi-year residencies in Las Vegas and collaborating with other artists such as Lady Gaga and Cardi B, yet still had not released a new album.
A bit of a curious move in the eyes of listeners, you have to understand that in a world where an average of 120,000 new songs are released daily via major music streaming platforms, it is easy to think that putting out music (especially in an album format) might be disposable. So, being the passionate artist that he is, Mars opted to hold off on releasing a new album… that was until 2026, when we can expect the long-overdue The Romantic. Mars’ fourth overall studio album, The Romantic, comes seven months shy of a decade since 24K Magic, and with it a ton of intrigue.
Releasing on February 27, 2026, through Atlantic Records, initial work on the songs for The Romantic began in 2023, with intense re-crafting continuing into late 2025. Proving Mars truly wanted to put out the strongest collection he possibly could, at least none of it was in vain, because The Romantic is anything but disposable. Officially announcing the album was complete in early January and releasing the lead single “I Just Might” just a few days later, it soon became clear that Mars was not only back with new music but also with a fresh sound and palpable energy.
The first taste of what The Romantic would have to offer, Mars shrewdly did not drop another single until the album’s actual release date, and that came in the form of the soulful, more subdued, and beautiful “Risk It All.” This is also the Romantics’ opening, and it is a perfect table setter for an album that ebbs and flows between Funk, Pop, Rock, R&B, and Soul. A truly colorful mix of genres, also evident from a single listen, is the silky-smooth, refined, and dynamic production handled by D’Mile and Mars. Taking on the sensation of a classic R&B or Soul record from the ‘70s or ‘80s, it is more than just a retro sound; it is a highly dignified one that should set a standard for other Modern Pop artists.
With all of this in mind, there is simply not a dull moment throughout The Romantic as Mars sings his heart out. An artist with pure vocal ability, he need not jump on the auto-tune bandwagon, where, in many cases, a tune on the radio these days leaves you wondering if it is a human being or a robot singing through the speaker. Refreshing to see an artist use raw vocals, Mars makes your ears tingle throughout The Romantic, especially on “God Was Showing Off,” “On My Soul,” and “Nothing Left.” Three prime examples of sensational singing from the pit of your soul, what truly makes this album shine is, yet again, the array of styles and tempos. This is especially evident in the Latin Rock/Jazz blend on “Something Serious” and in the more classic American R&B of “Dance With Me.”
Overall, while naysayers might say that Mars is not reinventing the wheel with The Romantic, the truth is that musicality and quality should matter most, and this album has them in abundance. From the guitars and bass to the brass and percussion, this is an album that gives you hope for the future of Pop music. That is why Cryptic Rock highly recommended The Romantic, giving it 5 out of 5 stars.
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